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Kris Lees has opted for blinkers in an 11th hour bid to clinch a Magic Millions berth for Married To The Mob.

A "veteran" of only one start, Married To The Mob  (Andrew Mallyon) needs to win the Gold Nugget (1100m) for colts and geldings at the Gold Coast on Saturday to clinch a start in the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) there a week later.

"He is a laid-back colt, and trialled well in the blinkers at Doomben a couple of weeks ago," Lees said this afternoon.

"Having drawn the outside barrier on Saturday, he is going to need everything to go his way all the same.

"But we have to have a throw at the stumps to try to make the Magic Millions field."

At his only start, Married To The Mob finished a game second to Rothfire (unbeaten from two starts so far) in a 2YO Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on November 2.

Mallyon, who made a successful trip back to Melbourne yesterday to win the Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Halvorsen, rode the Foxwedge colt then and again when he finished a close third in a Doomben trial (840m) on December 17.

It's make or break time as far as the Magic Millions is concerned as Married To The Mob, with only $14,350 from his debut run, won't make the field unless he is successful on Saturday.

Lees also runs Longbottom (3YO Handicap, 1200m), Autumn Rain ($250,000 wfa The Wave, 1800m) and Snowzone (MM Rising Stars Class 4 Plate, 1300m) – and Mallyon also rides that trio.

"Longbottom might be a risk at the 1200m, but the inside barrier gives her the chance to run it out," Lees said.

"Autumn Rain is up sharply in class, but she is in good form having won her last three starts and deserves a crack at such a good prizemoney race.

"Whilst she is coming back in distance from her latest 2200m victory at Scone, she has drawn nicely and is an improving mare."

Snowzone returned as a gelding when successful in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1150m) against his own sex on the Beaumont track on December 21 – the second victory of his eight-start career.

"He has trained on strongly since that win, and is another favoured by a good draw," Lees said.

"The 3YO Magic Millions next week might be a tall order against the likes of Alligator Blood, etc, but this would still be a nice pick-up, being worth $250,000."

. Lees has only one acceptor at Saturday's provincial meeting at Wyong; Mandirigma (Andrew Gibbons) in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

The Sebring three-year-old stylishly won a 2YO Maiden Plate (900m) on his home track last June on debut, then failed to handle a "Heavy 10" track when he failed on the Kensington track at his next start.

Mandirigma has trialled twice in preparation for his resumption, and won a 1000m Wyong trial on December 20.

"He is a nice colt, but the wide draw isn't going to make things easy for him," Lees said.